Pawan Kalyan on Thursday said that he would not contest from any seat in the state in the general elections. “I am mere activist in my brother’s party. I am here to obey instructions of Chiranjeevi,” he said. He also said he is taking care of megastar’s security.

“I am more interested on the cultural activities of the party. No one is trying to build and strengthen the youth. We will focus on that. The problem with current political system is that a mere one lakh leaders are deciding the fate of 8 crores of public in the state. We need to nurture more leaders,” he opined.

Will Chiranjeevi be successful as politician? Can the man who faced only ‘soft’ journalits (film journalists) face the hardcore political journos and react to them? How would he react if someone asks about ‘sensitive’ Telangana issue?

These were the many questions that were raised by the naysayers before Chiru made his entry into his party office and faced the media. But all the doubts were cleared and Chiru emerged as the winner in his first ever media meeting in the role of a politician.

His speech was articulate and he seemed confident. He came up with some quotable quotes when tough questions were fielded. Not a single moment, he was visible tensed; he’s clear about everything. Moreover, his benign handling of the press won the hearts.

It is clear that he is not making hasty entry into politics. His first show as politician is super hit. Or it looks like!

Megastar Chiranjeevi said it pains him to say good bye to the film industry which gave him everything. “For 30 years, I lived life here. It hurts when the feeling comes that I am leaving the industry. I won’t term it as good bye but I will act only if a film is made to better the society,” he said. But analysts say he made good bye to the acting career, though he could not utter the word. That is why he is throwing a farewell dinner party for his colleagues in the industry on Monday.

The party is arranged at Ramanaidu studios and only film personalities are invited.

Babai and Abbai are coming together. Nandamuri Balakrishna has finally decided his next film. His brother’s son and hero Kalyan Ram is producing Balakrishna’s new movie on his banner NTR Arts. On this banner, Kalyan Ram produced two commercially successful films – Atanokkade and Hare Ram. Now, he is making the third one with his Babai (uncle).

Young writer BVS Ravi has narrated a script which was okayed by NBK. The film will go to the sets in October. Director’s name will be finalized in a few days.

In the current political scenario, this can be the hot combination NBK as hero and Kalyan Ram as the producer. Buzz is that a director who is known for his closeness with NBK might wield the megaphone.

Major supporters to the Sensex were HDFC Bank, HDFC Ltd, ICICI Bank, Grasim Industries, Larsen and Toubro, Mahindra and Mahindra, ONGC, RCOM, Tata Steel, Cipla and ACC.

The second largest bank in the country, ICICI Bank has announced that its customers need not go to the bank for their service and the services they required will be available at the click of a mouse.

According to bank sources, it launched B2-Branch free banking' that enable the customers to get all the required services direct online banking. This is the first of its kind in the country according to bank sources.

For using these services, the customers need not pay any extra amount. It clarified that even if the balance is not sufficient, the bank offers to its customers quantum optima facility. The bank urged the customers to be more careful as the online banking is a secured one.

A building under construction caved in at Moghalrajapuram in the city on Monday night claiming four lives. Workers engaged by the police and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation recovered the bodies of four persons including a visitor.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation officials completely demolished the building that collapsed on one side to retrieve the bodies on Tuesday. The bodies were sent to the Government General Hospital for postmortem. According to preliminary inquires revealed that the house was built on the loose soil of an abandoned well filled with mud and other materials a decade ago. The Assistant City Planner said that they gave permission based on the plan submitted to them and they are not aware of the existence of a well.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner KV Rajendranath Reddy said that the police registered a case based on a complaint by a person injured in the accident. He added that they have to ascertain how the permission was given to construct a building when a well existed there earlier. They are on the look out for property owner V Ramakrishna.

A bullet proof Volvo for the use by the Chief Minister, Dr.YS Rajasekhara Reddy is being made by APSRTC at its body building unit here.

The heavy duty bus will be pressed into service as and when the Chief Minister wants to travel by road during his district tours by road in preference to a trip by a helicopter.

The Finance department on Tuesday issued an order releasing an amount of Rs.3.59 crore to the APSRTC for purchase of the Volvo B 7R Euro III chassis. The APSRTC has been asked to fabricate the body for the chassis and bullet proof the heavy vehicle, meeting security specifications prescribed by the police and other relevant authorities.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhara Rao has said that his party will support the UPA Government led by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the condition that the later will give firm assurance on starting the process for creation of a separate Telangana state. He contended that the Congress party was earlier claiming that the Left parties were not in favor of creating small States. Now, they had decided to come forward for the Congress party and the UPA itself to take a decision on separate Telangana.

He laid down the condition when Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar telephoned him on Tuesday to seek the support of the two TRS MPs for the UPA government and held avoid mid term poll to the Lok Sabha. Chandrasekhara Rao said that he explained to him how Congress party had failed to fulfill its promise of conceding Telangana after the 2004 general elections.

Maintaining a low profile after his party debacle in the recent by elections has come back to the center stage within hours of the Left parties' decision to withdraw support to the UPA government although his party's strength in the Lok Sabha has come down from five to two. Speaking to media, he said unless the Prime Minister gives a specific assurance, the TRS will not help in bailing out of the government.

Markets are trading firm in the early deals of Wednesday with the Sensex gaining 495 points to 13,845 levels. The broader markets index Nifty also gained 3.5 per cent to 4128.
Buying is visible in capital goods, realty, IT, oil & gas and banking counters by over 2.8 per cent each.

“I expect two per cent plus opening due to global cues and the Nifty can touch 4100 levels today. Decent recovery can be seen in infrastructure and capital goods stocks,” said VK Doshi, Technical Analyst & Derivative Strategist.

Among the BSE-30 scrips, Reliance Infrastructure gained 6.9 per cent to Rs 807 levels. Other major gainers include Jaiprakash Associates, which is up 6.8 per cent to Rs 168. Reliance Communication also advanced 6 per cent to Rs 440.

Other Asian markets are also trading firm on Wednesday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi are in green turf by over 1.1 per cent each.

Banks surge

NB Footwear reported net loss of Rs 0.10 crore in the quarter ended March 2008 as against net loss of Rs 0.15 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2007. There were no sales reported in the quarter ended March 2008 and during the previous quarter ended March 2007.